After Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, God expelled them from the garden. But, God didn't send them out in the scratchy fig leaves; he came them fur coats to wear.
After Cain murdered his brother Abel, God sentenced him to a life as a fugitive and wanderer. But, God also put a mark of Cain so that no one would kill him.
When God saw that wickedness was abounding on the earth, God sent a flood to destroy everything--well, not quite everything. God protected Noah and his family and pairs of all kinds of animals. Moreover, after the flood God made covenant with Noah.
When humans built the Tower of Babel in an attempt to be like God, God responded by scattering them-- separation by place and by language.
Here's the recurring pattern in Genesis so far. Sin followed by punishment followed by grace. Today's passage may be seen as a response to the Tower of Babel. People were separated. Now, God calls Abraham to be a blessing to all the families of the earth.
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